Kendrick Lamar Talks Being Inspired By Jay Z & Entertainers Being Role Models In Jet Cover Story

AllHipHop Staff

Jan 25, 2014

JET MAGAZINE ASKS: "CAN KENDRICK LAMAR SAVE HIP HOP?"

(AllHipHop News) Kendrick Lamar is set to have a pretty big week. The TDE emcee is up for seven Grammys at tomorrow night's (1/26) awards ceremony, and the Hip Hop superstar will also grace the upcoming cover of Jet.

The headline for the magazine's Black History Month Special Edition is "Can Kendrick Lamar Save Hip Hop?" In an exclusive interview, K. Dot talks about entertainers' roles as social leaders and shares some of the people that have served as inspirations in his life.

“Hip Hop plays a huge part in Black history,” states Lamar. “It’s bigger than music. Entertainers are actually leading a generation today as role models, whether they want to or not.”

Besides mentioning civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King and members of his own family like his father and his uncles, the Black Hippy member also points out another rap star as someone who provides a blueprint for his career.

"People forget that Jay Z is from the projects – but that inspires me,” said Lamar. "If this guy can go from the streets to the corporate world, that lets me know I’m open for anything."

Kendrick also recognizes the role he plays for his fans, and he discusses why he focuses on the messages he presents in his music.

"The songs aren’t for me," he says. "They are for that person who needs to hear them. People who live their lives to this music. So I take it a little further than just coming up with a clever line."

The rest of Kendrick Lamar's Jet interview can be read in the February 17th issue arriving on newsstands January 27th.